Homeland and Girls win big at the Golden Globe Awards

Homeland star Damian Lewis won best actor in a TV drama (Picture: EPA)

Homeland and Girls were the big TV winners at the Golden Globes last night, with both shows winning gongs and their stars scooping awards, too.

Not only did Homeland take home the Best Television Series (Drama) award, but its lead stars Damian Lewis and Claire Danes won Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series (Drama) and Best Actress in a Television Series (Drama) respectively.

Claire Danes also took home a gong for her performance in Homeland (Picture: AP)

Accepting his award, British star Lewis said: ‘All of us at Homeland over the last 18 months have been on an extraordinary journey and to have picked up a little piece of treasure along the way is a great perk.

‘I would like to share this with the best cast and crew working in TV today, sweltering it out in intolerable heat in North Carolina.

‘I’d like to dedicate this to my mum, who I know is up there tonight, looking down on me, bursting with pride and telling everyone up there how well her son is doing in acting.’

Lena Dunham, seen here with her Girls co-stars Zosia Mamet, left, and Allison Williams, right, also won big on the night (Picture: AP)

Meanwhile, HBO comedy Girls scooped the award for Best Television Series (Comedy or Musical) and its writer and star Lena Dunham also went home with the gong for Best Actress In A Television Series (Comedy Or Musical), beating out competition from Golden Globes hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

‘I thought I was going to be a cooler customer if this ever happened, which I didn’t think it would,’ Lena said as she collected her award, clearly flustered.

‘The other women in this category are women who have inspired me deeply and who have made me laugh and comforted me at the darkest moments of my life.

‘I’d like to thank HBO. I can’t believe what a wonderful place it is to work.

As the music played over her final few words, she added: ‘This award is for every woman who’s ever felt like there wasn’t a space for her.’

The full Golden Globes TV winners are as follows:

Best Television Series (Drama)Breaking BadBoardwalk EmpireDownton AbbeyHomeland – WINNERThe Newsroom

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series (Drama)
Connie Britton (Nashville)
Glenn Close (Damages)
Claire Danes (Homeland) – WINNER
Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey)
Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Hayden Panettiere (Nashville)
Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife)
Sarah Paulson (Game Change)
Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey) – WINNER
Sofia Vergara (Modern Family)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Max Greenfield (New Girl)
Ed Harris (Game Change) – WINNER
Danny Huston (Magic City)
Mandy Patinkin (Homeland)
Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)